Liquid crystal cell and a method for fabricating that

ABSTRACT

A LC cell is manufactured by the method including the steps of: rubbing a first alignment layer coating a first substrate, such that the first alignment layer has a first pretilt angle associated therewith; exposing said second alignment layer coating a first substrate to light such that said second alignment layer has at least one second pretilt angle associated therewith; and providing a liquid crystal material between said first and second substrates. The materials for the first and second alignment layers include a polyimide and a polysiloxane based material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to a liquid crystal cell, moreparticularly to a liquid crystal cell which includes one substratecoated with a rubbed alignment layer and the other substrate coated witha photo-aligned alignment layer, and the method for fabricating that.

Generally, the liquid crystal cell comprises two substrates and liquidcrystal formed between these substrates, the liquid crystal comprisinganisotropic molecules. To provide an orderly alignment of liquid crystalin the cell for the uniform brightness and the high contrast ratio ofthe liquid crystal cell, conventional rubbing is carried out onalignment layers coating substrate. The rubbing is mechanical frictionon the alignment layer so as to provide a pretilt of liquid crystalmolecules defined by a pretilt angle and a pretilt angle direction. Thepretilt angle refers to a polar angle and the pretilt angle directionrefers to a azimuthal angle between the surface of alignment layer andthe pretilt.

The pretilt of a liquid crystal molecule adjacent a first alignmentlayer is called a first pretilt of a first alignment layer, and thepretilt of a liquid crystal molecule adjacent a second alignment layeris called a second pretilt of a second alignment layer. Thereby, thepretilt of a liquid crystal molecule in the middle of two layers isdetermined by the interaction between pretilts of the first and secondalignment layer.

The liquid crystal cell is classified a vertical aligned liquid crystalcell and a horizontal aligned liquid crystal cell depending upon thepretilt angle. The vertical aligned liquid crystal cell typicallydefines a liquid crystal cell having a pretilt angle of an alignmentlayer larger than 60°, the horizontal aligned liquid crystal celltypically refers to a liquid crystal cell having a pretilt angle of analignment layer less than 5°.

There are several modes for liquid crystal cells according torelationships between a first pretilt angle direction of a firstalignment layer and a second pretilt angle direction of a secondalignment layer facing the first substrate. If the first pretilt angledirection is perpendicular to the second alignment direction, it iscalled a twisted nematic(TN) mode liquid crystal cell. If they areparallel with each other, the liquid crystal cell is called anelectrically controlled birefringence(ECB) mode liquid crystal cell anda bend mode liquid crystal cell. In addition, it is called a In-PlaneSwitching(IPS) mode liquid crystal cell if a pretilt angle direction isshifted depending on the voltage.

A conventionally used liquid crystal display is mainly a twisted nematicliquid crystal display (TNLCD), in which the transmittance is dependentaccording to the viewing angle at each gray level. Especially, while thetransmittance is symmetrical in the horizontal direction, thetransmittance is asymmetrical in the vertical direction. Therefore, inthe vertical direction, the range with inverted image phenomenon isoccurred so that the vertical viewing angle becomes very limited.

To overcome said problems, a multi-domain TNLC cell such as a two-domainliquid crystal cell, and a four-domain liquid crystal cell isintroduced. The multi-domain liquid crystal cell has a wider viewingangle by providing more than domains in each pixel, domains havingdifferent pretilts with respect to each other, so as to compensate theviewing angle dependence of each domain.

The most popular process to obtain said multi-domain liquid crystal cellis a mechanical rubbing process, as shown in FIG. 1. Rubbing isperformed mechanically on an entire substrate 1 coated with alignmentlayer 8 such as polyimide, so that microgrooves are formed on thesurface of the alignment layer 8, as shown in FIG. 1a, and FIG. 1b. Todivide two domains in a pixel, in FIG. 1c and FIG. 1d, a photoresist 11is coated over entire alignment layer 8 surface, and the photoresist 11of one domain is removed by exposing light, reverse rubbing process iscarried out on one domain as shown in FIG. 1e. The remained photoresistis removed by exposing light, then, two domains are provided on thesubstrate 1 as shown in FIG. 1f. In the two-domain liquid crystal cellobtained thereby, the inversion of viewing angle is compensated by theaforementioned process.

However, the rubbing process causes a dust particle and/or anelectrostatic discharge, so the yield is reduced and/or the substrate isdamaged. The manufacturing process becomes too complicated to apply inindustry, because the process includes a photolithography, which iscoating photoresist layer and removing a part of the layer by exposinglight, for dividing domains.

Therefore, it is a photo-alignment method that is introduced to simplifyalignment process as well as to prevent the damage of substrate. Thephoto-alignment is the process in which a pretilt angle direction ofalignment layer is given by the irradiation of linearly polarizedultraviolet light. The alignment layer used in the photo-alignmentmethod is mainly including PVCN(polyvinyl cinnamate). When ultravioletlight is irradiated into the photo-aligned layer coating the substrate,it causes cyclo-addition between the cinnamoyl groups of cinnamic acidside chains that belong to different photopolymers. Thereby, thedirection of the photopolymer configuration i.e., the pretilt ofalignment layer is aligned uniformly.

One example of the photo-alignment method is disclosured as a followingprocess. The photo-alignment method comprises double exposure oflinearly polarized ultraviolet light into a substrate coated with PVCNto determine a pretilt, the pretilt including an alignment direction, apretilt angle direction and pretilt angle. First linearly polarizedultraviolet light is perpendicularly irradiated into the alignment layercoating substrate so as to determine a plurality of pretilt angledirections. Then, second linearly polarized light is obliquelyirradiated into the alignment layer again, to determine a pretilt angleand a pretilt angle direction. The pretilt angle and pretilt angledirection are obtained by controlling the second oblique directionrelative to the substrate coated with the alignment layer.

However, the photo-alignment method has problems that the process iscomplicated due to the double exposure and the pretilt angle is toosmall, for example, the obtained pretilt angles being approximately0.15°, 0.26° and 0.30° respectively when the oblique irradiation anglesare 30°, 45° and 60°. In addition, it takes long time to irradiate lightinto the alignment layer so total tact time is prolonged, as well, thealignment stability of photo-alignment method is weaker than that ofrubbing method.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid crystal cellhaving an alignment stability and a wider viewing angle by simplifyingthe process and the fabrication method thereof.

To achieve the object mentioned above, the method for fabricating theliquid crystal cell of the present invention comprises the followingsteps of: providing a first alignment layer on a first substrate;rubbing said first alignment layer such that said first alignment layerhas a first pretilt angle associated therewith; providing a secondalignment layer on a second substrate; exposing said second alignmentlayer to light such that said second alignment layer has at least onesecond pretilt angle associated therewith; and providing a liquidcrystal material between said first and second substrates.

The first alignment layer comprises polyimide, but the second alignmentlayer comprises photopolymers, the photo-polymers including polysiloxanebased materials. The pretilt angle of this invention is controlleddepending upon the photo-energy of the ultraviolet light irradiating.

To determined the second pretilt, this invention includes doubleirradiation of this invention. The double irradiation comprises thesteps of: irradiating polarized light in the perpendicular direction tothe second alignment layer and irradiating unpolarized light in theoblique direction to the second alignment layer. In these steps, thelatter step can be prior to the former.

Another method for determining the second pretilt in this invention isusing a flowing effect. The method comprises the steps of: irradiatingpolarized light in the perpendicular direction to the second substrateso as to determine a second pretilt angle and two pretilt angledirection; and injecting liquid crystal materials between said firstsubstrate and said second substrate in the perpendicular direction tothe polarized direction of the light so as to select a pretilt angle anda second pretilt angle direction.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome clear from the following description of preferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1a to 1f show a conventional reverse-rubbing process.

FIG. 2 is showing a cross-sectional view of liquid crystal cellaccording to this invention.

FIG. 3 is showing a photo-irradiation device used for photo-alignmentprocess.

FIG. 4 is a graph illustrating the relationship between the photo-energyof ultraviolet light and the pretilt angle of the photo-aligned layerformed with polysiloxane based materials.

FIGS. 5a to 5f show process for fabricating a liquid crystal cellaccording to this invention.

FIGS. 6a to 6f show another process for fabricating a liquid crystalcell according to this invention.

FIGS. 7a to 7d show a cross-sectional view of a TN mode liquid crystalcell according to this invention

FIGS. 8a to 8d show a cross-sectional view of a ECB mode liquid crystalcell according to this invention.

FIGS. 9a to 9d show a cross-sectional view of a bend mode liquid crystalcell according to this invention.

FIGS. 10a to 10b show a cross-sectional view of a IPS mode liquidcrystal cell according to this invention.

FIGS. 11a to 11g show one process for fabricating a multi-domain liquidcrystal cell according to this invention.

FIGS. 12a to 12g show another process for fabricating a multi-domainliquid crystal cell according to this invention.

FIGS. 13a to 13f show another process for fabricating a multi-domainliquid crystal cell according to this invention.

FIGS. 14a to 14j show another process for fabricating a multi-domainliquid crystal cell according to this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

FIG. 2 is a drawing showing the liquid crystal cell, and 1 and 2indicate a first substrate and a second substrate of the liquid crystalcell, respectively. The first substrate 1 is coated with the firstalignment layer 8 formed with polyimide and is rubbed so as to determinea first pretilt defined a first pretilt angle and a first pretilt angledirection. The second substrate 2 is coated with the second alignmentlayer 9. The material for the second alignment layer 9 includesphotopolymers such as polysiloxane based materials. Polysiloxanecinnamate, one of the polysiloxane based materials has the followingstructural formulas: polysiloxane cinnamate I: ##STR1## Z can beselected from the group consisting of OH, CH₃ or from mixtures thereof,

m=10-100,

l=1-11,

L=0 or 1,

K=0 or 1,

X, X₁, X₂, Y═H, F, Cl, CN, CF₃, C_(n) H_(2n+1), or OC_(n) H_(2n+1),wherein n can be from 1 to 10, or from mixtures thereof;

polysiloxane cinnamate II: ##STR2## Z can be selected from the groupconsisting of OH, CH₃ or from mixtures thereof,

m=10-100,

l=1-11,

L=0 or 1,

K=0 or 1,

X, X₁, X₂, Y═H, F, Cl, CN, CF₃, C_(n) H_(2n+1) or OC_(n) H_(2n+1),wherein n can be from 1 to 10, or from mixtures thereof.

Then, the second substrate 2 coated with a second alignment layer 9 isexposed to ultraviolet light by a photo-irradiation device in FIG. 3.The device includes the lamp 3 generating ultraviolet light, a lens 4and a polarizer 5 linearly polarizing the ultraviolet light from lamp 3.To irradiate ultraviolet light into the alignment layer 9 of thesubstrate 2, the ultraviolet light generated from the lamp 3 is passedthrough the lens 4 and linearly polarized through polarizer 5, then theultraviolet light is irradiated into the alignment layer 9 coatingsubstrate 2. The lamp 3 is the Mercury(Hg) lamp having the wave lengthof 365 nm.

In that time, the pretilt angle formed on the alignment layer 9 can becontrolled by photo-energy. When ultraviolet light is perpendicularlyirradiated into the substrate 2 coated with alignment layer 9 ofpolysiloxane based materials, the pretilt angle of the alignment layer 9surface is controlled in a broad range according to the photo-energy ofthe ultraviolet light, as shown in FIG. 4. Referring to this figure, thepretilt angle can be controlled depending upon the photo-energyirradiated into the alignment layer 9 (the wavelength of ultravioletlight is 350 nm). The pretilt angle exponentially decreases according tothe photo-energy of ultraviolet light to at almost 0° at 6,000 mJ/cm.

The vertical aliged liquid crystal cell can be fabricated by adoptingphoto-energy less than 2,000 mJ/cm², and the horizontal aligned liquidcrystal cell can be fabricated by adopting photo-energy more than 5,000mJ/cm².

FIG. 5 is showing one embodiment of a process for fabricating a liquidcrystal cell which comprises a first substrate, a second substrate and aliquid crystal layer injected therebetween. The first substrate 1 coatedwith a first alignment layer 8 is mechanically rubbed to determine apretilt, the pretilt meaning a pretilt angle and a pretilt angledirection, as shown in FIG. 5a and FIG. 5b.

The polarized light is irradiated in the perpendicular direction ontothe second substrate 2 coated with a second alignment layer 9 so as todetermine a second pretilt angle and two pretilt angle direction facingeach other as shown in FIG. 5c and FIG. 5d. To select one pretilt angledirection, nonpolarized light is irradiated in the oblique directiononto the alignment layer 9 on the substrate 2 so as to determine asecond pretilt oriented with one pretilt angle direction. In FIG. 5f,attaching the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2, liquidcrystal materials are injected between two substrates 1,2 so as to alignuniformly by the stable anchoring provided by the first pretilt.

In addition, it is also possible that the oblique-irradiation can becarried out prior to the perpendicular irradiation in this embodiment.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of a process for fabricating a liquidcrystal cell which comprises a first substrate, a second substrate and aliquid crystal layer injected therebetween. The first substrate 1 coatedwith a first alignment layer 8 is mechanically rubbed to determine apretilt, the pretilt meaning a pretilt angle and a pretilt angledirection, as shown in FIG. 6a and FIG. 6b.

The polarized light is irradiated in the perpendicular direction intothe second substrate 2 coated with a second alignment layer 9 so as todetermine a second pretilt angle and two pretilt angle direction facingeach other as shown in FIG. 6c and FIG. 6d. To select one pretilt angledirection, this embodiment adopts the flowing effect of liquid crystalmaterials in which the pretilt angle direction is determined accordingto the flowing direction of liquid crystal material flown as shown inFIG. 6e, FIG. 6f. Attaching the first substrate 1 having uni-pretiltdetermined alignment layer 8 by rubbing and second substrate 2 havingtwo pretilts oriented with two pretilt angle directions determined aphoto-aligned layer 9, then liquid crystal materials are injectedbetween two substrates. By the flowing effect of liquid crystalmaterials, the liquid crystal materials adjacent the second alignmentlayer 9 are aligned uniformly in the second pretilt angle direction by asingle exposure.

There are several mode of liquid crystal cell depending upon theconfiguration between the first pretilt angle direction and the secondpretilt angle direction determined by either abovementioned process.

FIG. 7 refers to a TN mode liquid crystal cell. FIG. 7a and FIG. 7b showa vertical aligned liquid crystal cell controlling depending upon thevoltage. FIG. 7c and FIG. 7d show a horizontal aligned liquid crystalcell.

FIG. 8 refers to an a ECB mode liquid crystal cell. FIG. 8a and FIG. 8bshow a vertical aligned liquid crystal cell controlling depending uponthe voltage. FIG. 8c and FIG. 8d show a horizontal aligned liquidcrystal cell.

FIG. 9 is referring a bend mode liquid crystal cell. FIG. 9a and FIG. 9bshow a vertical aligned liquid crystal cell controlling depending uponthe voltage. FIG. 9c and FIG. 9d showing a horizontal aligned liquidcrystal cell.

FIG. 10 refers to an IPS mode liquid crystal cell in which the liquidcrystal molecules are shifted in plane depending on the voltage. Asfurther shown in FIGS. 10a and 10b, elements 7a and 7b designate athin-film transistor (TFT) gate electrode and a counter or commonelectrode, respectively, on second or a lower substrate 2. In order tosimplify the description herein, remaining portions of the TFT (e.g.source and drain) are not shown in FIGS. 10a and 10b.

This invention can be applied in a multi-domain liquid crystal cell toprovide wider viewing angle. Some embodiments of process formanufacturing the multi-domain liquid crystal cell are in FIG. 11, FIG.12, FIG. 13 and FIG. 14.

FIG. 11 is shows one embodiment of this invention to provide amulti-domain liquid crystal cell in which the first alignment layer 8 isprovided a first pretilt by mechanically rubbing, and the secondalignment layer 9 is provided two pretilts in two domains by using thelight.

FIG. 11a and FIG. 11b show the rubbing process to provide a firstpretilt on the alignment layer 8 with low pretilt angle, almost 0°. FIG.11c-FIG. 11f are showing the process for forming two second pretilts ontwo domains of the second alignment layer 9 with a high photo-energy toprovide low pretilt angle less than 5°. The polarized light isirradiated in the perpendicular direction onto the second alignmentlayer 9 so as to determined a second pretilt angle and two pretilt angledirections, as shown in FIG. 11d. To select a first pretilt angledirection for a first domain I, the nonpolarized light is irradiated inthe first oblique direction to the second substrate 2 in which a seconddomain II is covered with the mask 10. Thereby, the 2-1th pretilt isformed on a first domain I, the 2-1th pretilt defined a second pretiltangle and a first pretilt angle direction, as shown in FIG. 11e.

To select a 2-2th pretilt angle direction for a second domain II, themask 10 covering the second domain II is moved to the first domain I.The nonpolarized light is irradiated in the second oblique direction tothe second substrate 2 in which a first domain I is covered with themask 10. Thereby, the 2-2th pretilt is formed on a second domain II, asshown in FIG. 11f, the 2-2th pretilt meaning a second pretilt angle anda second pretilt angle direction.

Assembling the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2, liquidcrystal materials are injected between two substrates 1,2. The moleculesof liquid crystal materials are arranged in the different directionbetween domains as shown in FIG. 11g depending the second pretilts.

Thereby, the viewing angle is compensated by differently aligning theliquid crystal molecules according to domains so as to get a widerviewing angle liquid crystal cell.

In this embodiment, the two-domain liquid crystal cell is possible toobtain multi-domain liquid crystal cell without photolithograpy. Inaddition, the alignment stability is provided by the first pretilt.

FIG. 12 shows another embodiment of this invention to provide a verticalaligned mode multi-domain liquid crystal cell in which the firstalignment layer 8 is provided a first pretilt by mechanically rubbing,and the second alignment layer 9 is provided two pretilts in two domainsby using the light.

FIG. 12a and FIG. 12b show the rubbing process to provide a firstpretilt on the alignment layer 8 with high pretilt angle larger than60°. FIG. 12c-FIG. 12f show the process for forming two second pretiltson two domains of the second alignment layer 9 with a low photo-energyto provide high pretilt angle less than 60°. The polarized light isirradiated in the perpendicular direction onto the second alignmentlayer 9 so as to determine a second pretilt angle and two pretilt angledirections, as shown in FIG. 12d. To select a first pretilt angledirection for a first domain I, the nonpolarized light is irradiated inthe first oblique direction to the second substrate 2 in which a seconddomain II is covered with the mask 10. Thereby, the 2-1th pretilt isformed on a first domain I, the 2-1th pretilt defined a second pretiltangle and a first pretilt angle direction, as shown in FIG. 12e.

To select a 2-2th pretilt angle direction for a second domain II, themask 10 covering the second domain II is moved to the first domain I.The nonpolarized light is irradiated in the second oblique direction tothe second substrate 2 in which a first domain I is covered with themask 10. Thereby, the 2-2th pretilt is formed on a second domain II, asshown in FIG. 12f, the 2-2th pretilt meaning a second pretilt angle anda second pretilt angle direction.

Assembling the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2, liquidcrystal materials are injected between two substrates 1,2. The moleculesof liquid crystal materials are arranged in the different directionbetween domains as shown in FIG. 12g depending upon the second pretilts.This vertical algined liquid crystal cell has a bend mode in the firstdomain I and a ECB mode in the second domain II.

Thereby, the viewing angle is compensated by differently aligning theliquid crystal molecules according to domains so as to get a widerviewing angle liquid crystal cell.

In this embodiment, the two-domain liquid crystal cell is accomplishedby low photo-energy so it is possible to obtain multi-domain liquidcrystal cell without photolithograpy. In addition, the alignmentstability is provided by the first pretilt.

FIG. 13 shows another embodiment of process for multi-domain liquidcrystal cell.

FIG. 13a and FIG. 13b show the rubbing process to provide a 1-1thpretilt and 1-2th pretilt on a first domain I and a second domain II ofthe first substrate 1 with different pretilt angles, such as 1-1thpretilt angle is larger than 1-2th pretilt angle. The alignment layerfor dividing domain is shown in FIG. 13a, an organic alignment layer 8Ais covered with an inorganic alignment layer 8B on the firstsubstrate 1. In the organic alignment layer 8A, pretilt angle is formedlarger than in the inorganic alignment layer 8B. Thus, the 1-1th pretiltis defined as a low 1-1th pretilt angle and a first pretilt angledirection, and the 1-2th pretilt is defined as a high 1-2th pretiltangle and a first pretilt angle direction.

FIG. 13c-FIG. 13d show the process for two domains in the secondsubstrate 2 with dividing two pretilts by differing two pretilt angles.The substrate 2 coated with a second alignment layer 9 is covered with amask 10 comprising a transparent part for a first domain I and asemi-transparent part for a second domain II. The polarized light isirradiated in the perpendicular direction onto the second substrate soas to determine a high 2-1th pretilt angle, a second alignment directionand two second pretilt angle directions on a first domain I, and a low2-2th pretilt angle and two second pretilt angle directions on a seconddomain II. To select a second pretilt angle direction for a first domainI and a second domain II, the nonpolarized light is irradiated in theoblique direction to the second substrate 2. Thereby, the 2-1th pretiltand 2-2th pretilt are formed on a first domain I and a second domain II,respectively, the 2-1th pretilt meaning a high 2-1 pretilt angle and asecond pretilt angle direction, and the 2-1th pretilt meaning a low 2-2pretilt angle and a second pretilt angle direction, as shown in FIG.13e.

Assembling the first substrate 1 and the second substrate 2, liquidcrystal materials are injected between two substrates 1,2. The moleculesof liquid crystal materials are aligned in the different directionsbetween domains as shown in FIG. 13f depending the pretilt angles.

Thereby, the viewing angle is compensated by differently aligning theliquid crystal molecules according to domains so as to get a widerviewing angle liquid crystal cell.

In this embodiment, the two-domain liquid crystal cell is possible toobtain multi-domain liquid crystal cell without photolithograpy. Inaddition, the alignment stability is provided by the rubbed firstalignment.

FIG. 14 shows a process for fabricating a four-domain liquid crystalcell. A two-domain first substrate 1 is prepared by the reverse rubbing,as shown in FIG. 14a, FIG. 14b and FIG. 14c. The Four-domain secondsubstrate 2 is prepared by changing the photo-irradiating direction, asshown in FIG. 14d-FIG. 14i.

Attaching two substrates 1,2, liquid crystal materials are injectedbetween two substrates 1,2. Then, the viewing angle is compensated bydifferently aligning the liquid crystal molecules according to eachdomain, as shown in FIG. 14g so as to get a wider viewing angle liquidcrystal cell.

This invention can be adopted to the various mode liquid crystal cellssuch as a TN mode, an ECB mode, a bend mode, and an IPS mode bycontrolling the alignment direction.

In this invention, it is possible to provide alignment stability byrubbed first alignment layer, and to increase the yield by aligningusing light instead of rubbing so as to eliminating damages caused byrubbing process.

In addition, the multi-domain liquid crystal cell can be obtained by asimple process without a photolithograpy for reverse rubbing.

It is to be understood that the form of the present invention hereinshow and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same andthat various application such as the change the photo-irradiation order,may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the presentinvention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of manufacturing a liquid crystaldisplay, comprising the steps of:providing a first alignment layer on afirst substrate; rubbing said first alignment layer such that said firstalignment layer has a first pretilt angle associated therewith;providing a second alignment layer on a second substrate; exposing saidsecond alignment layer to light such that said second alignment layerincludes a plurality of pretilt angles associated therewith, saidplurality of pretilt angles being oriented in a plurality of pretiltdirections, said light being incident substantially perpendicular tosaid second alignment layer, and further exposing additional light toselect one of said plurality of pretilt angles; and providing a liquidcrystal material between said first and second substrates.
 2. A methodin accordance with claim 1, wherein said additional light comprisesunpolarized light.
 3. A method in accordance with claim 2, wherein saidunpolarized additional light is obliquely incident to the secondalignment layer.
 4. A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display,comprising the steps of:providing a first alignment layer on a firstsubstrate; rubbing said first alignment layer such that said alignmentlayer has a first pretilt angle associated therewith; providing a secondalignment layer on a second substrate; exposing said second alignmentlayer to light such that said second alignment layer includes aplurality of pretilt angles associated therewith, said plurality ofpretilt angles being oriented in a plurality of pretilt directions; andexposing said second alignment layer to a polarized light in theperpendicular direction; exposing said second alignment layer to anonpolarized light in the oblique direction; and providing a liquidcrystal material between said first and second substrates.
 5. A methodof manufacturing a liquid crystal display, comprising the stepsof:providing a first alignment layer on a first substrate; rubbing saidfirst alignment layer such that said alignment layer has a first pretiltangle associated therewith; providing a second alignment layer on asecond substrate; exposing said second alignment layer to light suchthat said second alignment layer includes a plurality of pretilt anglesassociated therewith, said plurality of pretilt angles being oriented ina plurality of pretilt directions; exposing said second alignment layerto a nonpolarized light in the oblique direction; exposing said secondalignment layer to a polarized light in the perpendicular direction; andproviding a liquid crystal material between said first and secondsubstrates.
 6. A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display,comprising the steps of:providing a first alignment layer on a firstsubstrate; rubbing said first alignment layer such that said alignmentlayer has a first pretilt angle associated therewith; providing a secondalignment layer on a second substrate; exposing said second alignmentlayer to light such that said second alignment layer includes aplurality of pretilt angles associated therewith, said plurality ofpretilt angles being oriented in a plurality of pretilt directions;exposing said second alignment layer to a first light such that saidplurality of pretilt angles are associated with said second alignmentlayer, said plurality of pretilt angles being oriented in respectivepretilt directions, exposing a first portion of said second alignmentlayer to a second light so as to select one of said pretilt anglesassociated with said first portion oriented in a first direction;exposing a second portion of said second alignment layer to a thirdlight so as to select one of said pretilt angles associated with saidsecond portion oriented in a second direction; and providing a liquidcrystal material between said first and second substrates.
 7. A methodin accordance with claim 6, wherein said first light includes linearlypolarized light.
 8. A method in accordance with claim 6, wherein saidfirst light is incident substantially perpendicular to a surface of saidsecond alignment layer.
 9. A method in accordance with claim 6, whereinsaid second light, said third light, or both said second and thirdlights include unpolarized light.
 10. A method in accordance with claim9, wherein said second light, said third light, and both said second andthird lights are incident obliquely to said surface of said secondalignment layer.
 11. A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display,comprising the steps of:providing a first alignment layer on a firstsubstrate; rubbing said first alignment layer such that said alignmentlayer has a first pretilt angle associated therewith; providing a secondalignment layer on a second substrate; exposing said second alignmentlayer to light such that said second alignment layer includes aplurality of pretilt angles associated therewith, said plurality ofpretilt angles being oriented in a plurality of pretilt directions;providing a third alignment layer on a portion of said first alignmentlayer; rubbing said third alignment layer such that said third alignmentlayer has a third pretilt angle associated therewith; and providing aliquid crystal material between said first and second substrates.
 12. Amethod in accordance with claim 11, wherein said third alignment layerhas a pretilt angle forming characteristics differing than that of thefirst alignment layer.
 13. A method in accordance with claim 11, whereinsaid third pretilt angle has a magnitude greater than said first pretiltangle.
 14. A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display,comprising the steps of:providing a first alignment layer on a firstsubstrate; rubbing said first alignment layer such that said alignmentlayer has a first pretilt angle associated therewith; providing a secondalignment layer on a second substrate; exposing said second alignmentlayer to light such that said second alignment layer includes aplurality of pretilt angles associated therewith, said plurality ofpretilt angles being oriented in a plurality of pretilt directions;exposing a first portion of said second alignment layer to a first doseof a first light such that a first plurality of pretilt angles havingrespective pretilt directions are associated with said first portion ofsaid second alignment layer, exposing a second portion of said secondalignment layer to a second dose of said first light such that a secondplurality of pretilt angles having respective pretilt directions areassociated with said second portion of said second alignment layer; andproviding a liquid crystal material between said first and secondsubstrates.
 15. A method in accordance with claim 14, further comprisingthe steps of:exposing said first portion of said second alignment layerto a first dose of a second light to select one of said pretilt anglesassociated with said first portion of said second alignment layer; andexposing said second portion of said second alignment layer to a seconddose of said second light to select ones of said pretilt anglesassociated with said second portion of said second alignment layer. 16.A method in accordance with claim 15, wherein said second light includesunpolarized light.
 17. A method in accordance with claim 15, whereinsaid second light is incident obliquely to said surface of said secondalignment layer.
 18. A method in accordance with claim 15, wherein saidsecond light is supplied to said second alignment layer through a platehaving a first part aligned with said first portion of said secondalignment and having a first transmissivity, and a second part alignedwith said second portion of said second alignment layer and having asecond transmissivity.
 19. A method in accordance with claim 14, whereinsaid first light includes linearly polarized light.
 20. A method inaccordance with claim 14, wherein said first light is incidentsubstantially perpendicular to said surface of said second alignmentlayer.
 21. A method in accordance with claim 14, wherein said firstplurality of pretilt angles each have a magnitude greater than amagnitude of each of said second plurality of pretilt angles.
 22. Amethod in accordance with claim 14, wherein said first light is suppliedto said second alignment layer through a plate having a first partaligned with said first portion of said substrate and having a firsttransmissivity, and a second part aligned with said second portion ofsaid second alignment layer and having a second transmissivity.
 23. Amethod of manufacturing a liquid crystal display, comprising the stepsof:providing a first alignment layer on a first substrate; rubbing saidfirst alignment layer such that said alignment layer has a first pretiltangle associated therewith; providing a second alignment layer on asecond substrate; exposing said second alignment layer to light suchthat said second alignment layer includes a plurality of pretilt anglesassociated therewith, said plurality of pretilt angles being oriented ina plurality of pretilt directions; exposing a first portion of saidsecond alignment layer to a first light such that a first pretilt angleoriented in a first direction is associated with said first portion ofsaid second alignment layer; exposing a second portion of said secondalignment layer to a second light such that a second pretilt angleoriented in a second direction is associated with said second portion ofsaid second alignment layer, exposing a third portion of said secondalignment layer to a third light such that a third pretilt angleoriented in a third direction is associated with said third portion ofsaid second alignment layer; exposing a fourth portion of said secondalignment layer to a fourth light such that a fourth pretilt angleoriented in a fourth direction is associated with said fourth portion ofsaid second alignment layer; and providing a liquid crystal materialbetween said first and second substrates.
 24. A method in accordancewith claim 23, wherein at least one of said first, second, third, andfourth lights include unpolarized light.
 25. A method in accordance withclaim 24, wherein at least one of said first, second, third, and fourthlights is incident obliquely to said surface of said second alignmentlayer.
 26. A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display,comprising the steps of:providing a first alignment layer on a firstsubstrate; rubbing said first alignment layer such that said alignmentlayer has a first pretilt angle associated therewith; providing a secondalignment layer on a second substrate; exposing said second alignmentlayer to light such that said second alignment layer includes aplurality of pretilt angles associated therewith, said plurality ofpretilt angles being oriented in a plurality of pretilt directions;exposing a first portion of said second alignment layer to a firstpolarized light in the first perpendicular direction; exposing a secondportion of said second alignment layer to a second polarized light inthe second perpendicular direction; and providing a liquid crystalmaterial between said first and second substrates.
 27. A method inaccordance with claim 26, wherein the exposing step is furthercomprising the steps of:exposing a first portion of said secondalignment layer to a first unpolarized light in the first obliquedirection; and exposing a second portion of said second alignment layerto a second unpolarized light in the second oblique direction.
 28. Amethod in accordance with claim 26, wherein the exposing step is furthercomprising the steps of:exposing a first area of a first portion of saidsecond alignment layer to a first unpolarized light in a first obliquedirection; exposing a second area of a first portion of said secondalignment layer to a second unpolarized light in a second obliquedirection and; exposing a first area of a second portion of said secondalignment layer to a third unpolarized light in a third obliquedirection; and exposing a second area of a second portion of said secondalignment layer to a fourth unpolarized light in a fourth obliquedirection.